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Real-world applications: 3D camera ensures precise aircraft cabin drilling

An Ensenso 3D camera integrated into an automated process chain ensures accurate detection and alignment of drilling positions in aircraft cabin assembly. [Credit: Image courtesy of IDS Imaging Development Systems]

 

 

 

 

In modern aircraft production, precision is everything. Every hole and every fixing point must be precisely positioned to ensure safety and quality. As part of the DiCADeMA project (Digital Cabin Architectures and Design for Manufacturing) led by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), a novel, fully digitally networked process has been developed. Through intelligent automation, this approach elevates aircraft cabin manufacturing to a new level. A key component in this process is an Ensenso 3D camera from IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH, which ensures highly precise detection and alignment of drilling positions.

Ensenso 3D camera. [Credit: Image courtesy of IDS Imaging Development Systems]

 

 

 

 

The DLR is the Federal Republic of Germany's research center for aerospace. Its research and development work in aviation, aerospace, energy, transport, and security is integrated into national and international collaborations.

Digital process chain from design to production
The aim of the ongoing project is to establish a continuous digital thread from design to production. Changes to the cabin design, such as seat spacing and the associated new position of the luggage compartments, are recorded directly in the digital design data and automatically transferred to production planning. Simulations allow these variants to be validated before any physical component is manufactured. Once digital validation is complete, production can begin immediately.

To make this digital process tangible, an automated system for marking drilling positions was developed on a mock-up of an aircraft frame structure. Several networked systems work together in this setup: An autonomous mobile robot (AMR) approaches the frame and positions itself near the target area. Mounted on the AMR is a lightweight robot that moves the marking unit, including the 3D camera, into the acquisition position. At this point, the Ensenso camera takes over the fine alignment. An integrated Manufacturing Execution System (MES) controls all sub-processes.

Frame construction and mobile robot including superstructures. [Credit: Image courtesy of IDS Imaging Development Systems]

 

 

The role of the 3D camera
The camera used, an Ensenso N36, captures the environment as a three-dimensional point cloud and matches it against the CAD data of the aircraft frame. In this way, even the smallest deviations between the target model and the actual geometry can be detected. The system uses this data to calculate precise correction values, which are transmitted to the higher-level MES. Communication takes place via a standardized OPC UA interface, ensuring reliable and secure data exchange between the camera, the robot, and the control system. The MES translates the acquired data into concrete control commands for the robot, which then performs the marking of the drilling position.

Lightweight robot with marking unit and 3D camera. [Credit: Image courtesy of IDS Imaging Development Systems]

 

 

The autonomous robot achieves a positioning accuracy of around 5 mm. This allows the camera to reach the acquisition position without risk of collision.

The Ensenso camera becomes a key link between digital design and real-world manufacturing: It recognizes local geometries; in this case, several rivets and the surface on which they are set, and compares the captured point clouds with reference data from the CAD. This comparison is made possible, among other things, by hand-eye calibration and an iterative minimization process. The result is a transformation matrix that precisely describes the correction required for the drilling position. By applying this correction value, the drilling position can be set precisely.

An operator follows the vehicle and drills the hole immediately afterward at the marked spot. This process is repeated for each installation point, while robots and humans can work safely in close proximity of one another.

Different views of a plate with rivets: actual plate (left), CAD point cloud (center), 3D camera point cloud (right). [Credit: Image courtesy of IDS Imaging Development Systems]

 

 

For this application in aircraft manufacturing, a compact camera with a very short working distance is required in order to keep the path from the acquisition position to the drilling position as short as possible. This helps to maintain high accuracy and avoids excessive robot movements. The Ensenso N36 meets these requirements.

VIDEO: The DiCADeMa project: Digital cabin architectures and design for manufacturing. [Credit: DLR Institute of Structures and Design]

The Ensenso N series has been specially developed for use in demanding environmental conditions. Thanks to its compact design, the camera can be installed in a space-saving manner, either in a fixed position or mounted on a robot arm. This makes it equally suitable for 3D capture of both moving and stationary objects. The integrated projector ensures high-contrast texture even under challenging lighting conditions: It projects additional structures onto the object surface using a pattern mask with a random dot pattern, thereby supplementing missing or weak features. All cameras are pre-calibrated at the factory and can be put into operation quickly and easily.

Benefits for manufacturing
The digital process offers the DLR several advantages. Camera-based alignment significantly increases precision and repeatability. At the same time, continuous data acquisition enables complete documentation and traceability of all process steps.

Point clouds in target/actual comparison. [Credit: Image courtesy of IDS Imaging Development Systems]

 

 

Assembly personnel are relieved, as the robot takes over the time-consuming task of position determination, allowing skilled workers to focus on the actual assembly operation. In addition, production times are significantly reduced, because manual measurements or readjustments are no longer necessary.

Outlook
The demonstration on the mock-up clearly illustrates the potential that lies in combining the digital process chain, robotics, and 3D image processing. In further project steps, the accuracy of the system and the performance of the evaluation algorithms will be examined in greater detail. This will involve not only the camera itself, but also the optimization of the mathematical methods used to align nominal and actual point clouds.

What is currently being tested in aircraft manufacturing may also be applied in other industries in the future. The system demonstrates, quite impressively, how optical sensor technology and intelligent software are paving the way for a new era in manufacturing: networked, efficient, and precisely on target.

Learn more about the Ensenso 3D camera from IDS Imaging Development Systems at ids-imaging.us/ensenso-3d-camera-n-series.html.

Source: IDS Imaging Development Systems

Published May 2026

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